Safety device for electric switches.



W. I. STAMM, R. L. EUSTICE & G. GARDINER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. 19.16.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Elttvamij Extented Sept. 5,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 W. L STAMM, R. L. EUYSTICE 6; G. GARDINER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELECTRiC SWiTCHES.

APPLICATION FILED 3.12. l9l6.

side members 6 and so prevents any binding between the band 10 and thestrips 8 and 9 of each of the sides, lhe knife blade is of a length tocontact with the inner face of the band 10 and the said end ispreferably enlarged and provided with a threaded opening. The numeral 17designates an insulated handle which is arranged-upon theouter face ofthe band 10 and which contacts with the spacer strip 15. This handle isprovided with a threaded shank 16 that passes through a suitable openingin the band 10 and is received in the threaded head of the knife blade.The shank 16 for the major portion of its length is square inv crosssection, the purpose of which will presently be described. Centrallysecured to the inner face of the panel 1 and projecting at a right angletherefrom is a plate 18, the

same having its outer end slotted or bifurcated and the inner wallprovided by the said slot. or bifurcation round to contact with andprovide a tension member as well as a guide for the portion of the band10 extending beyond the inner face of the panel 1, and the side membersor fingers 19 formed by the said slot or bifurcation in the memher 18provide the side members of the band. By this arrangement it will benoted that as the handle is operated the band will be revolved withtheswinging of the knife blade 5; that the band and sides entirely closethe metal parts of the switch and that access to the switch cannot beobtained until one of .the sides 6 is removed.

In some instances it has been found necessary or desirable to lock theswitch in either its open or closed position and to provide for this wearrange upon the panel 1 at one of the sides of the casing provided bythe sides 6 and the band 10, a stand 20, the same having its outer endbifurcated to provide spaced arms 21 and 22 respectively. The arm 21 isof a less length than the arm 22 and has its corners notched to receivethe ends of a hasp member 23' which is pivotally 4 secured to the saidcorners.

thereon, and the squared portion of the shank will prevent the unlockingof the handle from the knife blade, as will be readily understood.

Having thus we claim is:

1. In a knife switch, a protective casing of insulated materialsurrounding the same, said casing including spaced sides. and acondescribed the invention, what The arm 22 tinuous band revolublearound the sides, and a handle of insulated material upon the exteriorof the band and connected with the knife blade of the switch. 1 I

2. In a knife switch, a protective casing of insulated materialsurrounding the same, said casing including spaced sides and a continuous band revoluble around the-sides, a handle of insulating materialfor the band, a connection between the handle and the knife blade of theswitch, and means for locking the handle to retain the blade of theswitch in one position.

3.1 1 protective device for knife switches including in combination witha knife switch, a panel upon which the switch secured, members extendingfrom the panel to the opposite sides of the switch, and a continuousband passing through openings in the panel and received in grooves inthe sides and surrounding the switch, an insulated handle for the band,and a connection between the handle andv the knife blade of theswitch. jI

4. A protective device for knife switches constructed of insulatingmaterial including a panel to which the switch is secured, side membersfor the panel upon the opposite sides of the switch, a split bandpassing through openings inthe panel and received in grooves in the sidemembersto inclose the switch between the side members, a plateconnecting the ends of the band, a spacer member arranged over the plateand contacting with the inner walls of the side members, a switch havingits knife blade provided with a threaded end which passes throughopenings in the meeting ends of the band, a connecting member for thesaid ends and the spacer member, and a handle of insulated materialhaving a threaded socket receiving the said threaded end of the knifeblade 5. In an insulating protector for knife switches, a' panal, aswitch secured to the panel, members connected with the panel 'andarranged to theopposite sides of the switch, a continuous band passingthrough openings in the panel received in guide grooves in the sidemembers, a connection between this band and the blade of the switch, ahandle for the band, and guide -member for the band proiecting from theinner-face of the panel and .iaving spaced arms-engaging with theopposite edges of the band. 1

6. In an insulating protector for'knife switches, a panel, legs arrangedupon the corners of the panel and extending in one direction therefrom,aknife switch upon the face of the panel opposite that provided with thelegs, side members upon the panel disposed to the opposite sides or theswitch, a continuous band passing through openings in the panel andhaving its edges received. 1

memes in guide slots in the sides, a connection between the knife bladeof the switch'and the band, a handle for the band, means upon the panelfor locking the handle to retain the knife in one position, and a spacermember seemed to the panel and pi'o ecting in'the direction of the legscontacting with the band.

7. In an insulating protector for knife switches, the combination with aknife switch, of a casing including e member upon which the switch issecured and having sides at the opposite sides of the switch, and-"acontinuous band mounted in uide grooves in'the sides and in the base ofthe casing, a connection between the knife switch and the hands, aremovable handle having a square shank for the band, a standard upon thecasing having a slotted end to receive the square portion of the handle,a swinging hasp connected with one of the arms of the stand and adaptedto be swung over the other arm and to hold the shank'of the

